Sen. Adam Schiff is under federal investigation for mortgage fraud after the Federal Housing Finance Agency sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, Newsmax reported. The California Democrat is accused of falsifying documents claiming two primary residences to obtain favorable terms on home loans and taxes.

Schiff certified that a residence he and his wife purchased in Potomac, Maryland, in 2003 was their primary residence. The purchase price was $870,000, and the Schiffs secured a $610,000 loan backed by Fannie Mae because they claimed it as their primary home.

Meanwhile, Schiff was claiming the same status on a condo he purchased in Burbank, California. At the time, he was representing the Golden State as a congressman, which would have required California residency.

When Schiff refinanced the Maryalynd home between 2009 and 2013, he once again made the Maryland home his primary residence, allowing for better interest rates and loan terms. He also certified the same in a 2011 affidavit. Meanwhile, the 65-year-old lawmaker was still benefiting from a $7,000 property tax break in California by simultaneously claiming the Burbank condo was his primary residence.

Possible Fraud

The FHFA referred the matter in May to the U.S. Attorney's Office. FHFA Director William Pulte sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stating that "Mr. Adam B. Schiff has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments from 2003-2019 for a Potomac, Maryland-based property," Pulte wrote, according to Fox News.

"As regulators of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks, we take very seriously allegations of mortgage fraud or other criminal activity. Such misconduct jeopardizes the safety and soundness of FHFA’s regulated entities and the security and stability of the U.S. mortgage market," Pulte added.

Indeed, a 2023 letter doubled down on the assertion that Schiff resided in California, where he received a 1% tax property tax break for living there full time. "Adam’s primary residence is Burbank, California, and will remain so when he wins the Senate seat," the letter said.

When CNN inquired about it that year, the California Democrat seemed to admit the alleged fraud. "Adam’s California and Maryland addresses have been listed as primary residences for loan purposes because they are both occupied throughout the year and to distinguish them from a vacation property," a letter from Schiff's spokesperson said at the time.

Now, Pulte believes Schiff "appears to have falsified records in order to receive favorable loan terms, and also appears to have been aware of the financial benefits of a primary residence mortgage when compared to a secondary residence mortgage." With the mounting evidence, the federal housing authority believes he may have committed bank fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and made false statements to financial institutions.

Trump Weighs In

Schiff spent so much time and energy attacking President Donald Trump, but now the tables have turned when news broke of the potential scandal. In a post to his Truth Social last month, Trump unleashed on Schiff as the matter was being referred for further investigation.

"I have always suspected Shifty Adam Schiff was a scam artist. And now I learn that Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division have concluded that Adam Schiff has engaged in a sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud. Adam Schiff said that his primary residence was in MARYLAND to get a cheaper mortgage and rip off America, when he must LIVE in CALIFORNIA because he was a Congressman from CALIFORNIA," Trump wrote on July 15.

"I always knew Adam Schiff was a Crook. The FRAUD began with the refinance of his Maryland property on February 6, 2009, and continued through multiple transactions until the Maryland property was correctly designated as a second home on October 13, 2020. Mortgage Fraud is very serious, and CROOKED Adam Schiff (now a Senator) needs to be brought to justice," Trump said.

 

As a lawmaker, Schiff was certainly sophisticated enough to understand the difference between a primary residence and a secondary or vacation home when securing loans. If the allegations are factual, Schiff was peddling lies that were easy to verify as false, and he should suffer the legal consequences if he is found guilty.

The Walking Dead actress Kelley Mack passed away Saturday at the age of 33, the New York Post reported. In January, Mack was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, a cancer of the brain and spinal cord, but lost her battle over the weekend, her family said.

The first indication that anything was wrong with Mack, whose real name is Kelley Klebenow, came in October 2024 when she experienced "persistent lower back pain." By the next month, the problem had become so severe that she headed to the emergency room on the night before Thanksgiving.

Doctors ordered an MRI, which revealed "an abnormal mass" on her spinal cord. A biopsy was done, which led to the diagnosis, but it also left Mack with permanent damage. "Due to the biopsy surgery on my spinal cord, I have lost the use of my right leg and most of my left leg, so I now get around with a walker and a wheelchair," Mack shared in a post to social media.

She continued to document her journey for her followers, and on March 26, Mack told fans that she was "re-learning how to walk" with the use of physical therapy. "Life has also had its ups and downs lately, am I right?" Mack wrote.

Tough Battle

Despite Mack's determination to get well, the cancer eventually took its toll on the "Chicago Med" actress, who passed away in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Her sister shared the sad news in a post on Mack's Instagram on Tuesday.

"It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley. Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go," Mack's sister, Kathryn, told the actress's thousands of followers.

"Kelley passed peacefully on Saturday evening with her loving mother Kristen and steadfast aunt Karen present. Kelley has already come to many of her loved ones in the form of various butterflies. She will be missed by so many to depths that words cannot express," the post continued.

A Caringbridge site for Mack announced a celebration of life to be held on August 16 in her native Ohio. "She would want you all to know how much she loves you. And as her sister, I want you all to know how brave that tough SOB was, especially when she decided to make the leap to be reunited with God," Kathryn concluded before noting she is "proud of" her sister.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kelley Mack (@itskelleymack)

A Promising Career

Mack began her promising career as a child actress, landing roles in various commercials. However, her first major success came in the short film, Elephant Garden. The film was honored at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, winning the Student Visionary Award.

In 2018, Mack appeared in five episodes of season nine of The Walking Dead as "Addy," who was one of the residents of Hilltop Colony. "I was only supposed to be in 2 episodes originally, so I was grateful to have been able to work on five of them and hadn’t anticipated that I’d stay on the show for too long," Mack said of her stint on the horror series.

According to her profile on IMDb, the actress also landed a role in an episode of 9-1-1 in 2019 and Chicago Med in 2022. Mack also had appeared in the films Delicate Arch and Mr. Manhattan in 2024 and played "Ricky" in this year's Universal flick, which was released in June.

Unfortunately, it would turn out to be her last film. Aside from her sister, Mack leaves behind parents, Kristen and Lindsay Klebow, brother Parker, and grandparents Lois and Larry Klebenow.

Cancer is a terrible disease that can strike at any time and take out even the toughest among us. Mack had a promising career and, by all indications, a full life. Cancer robbed her of both, and she will be deeply missed by those who loved her.

Senate Republicans have given up the fight to confirm several nominees as lawmakers leave Washington, D.C., for summer break, Politico reported. The decision came Saturday after Majority Leader John Thune met with Senators who said President Donald Trump privately told them to table the negotiations for now.

According to an anonymous source, Thune attempted to negotiate with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer before ultimately pulling the plug. Sources close to the matter said sticking points in the talks included issues like funding the National Institutes of Health and providing foreign aid.

Meanwhile, Democrats made a separate offer promising to confirm their nominees later this year if Republicans agreed not to remove funding that was previously approved through rescission packages. Republicans would not agree to such terms, as Trump was not on board with these moves, and rescission only requires a simple majority in the House and Senate, which the GOP has.

With both parties at an impasse, it appears talks will have to resume when Congress reconvenes in September. Each side is blaming the other for the standoff, with Trump aiming his ire at Schumer for holding the nomination process up over funding.

Blame game

Trump excoriated Schumer in a post to Truth Social on Saturday. "Senator Cryin’ Chuck Schumer is demanding over One Billion Dollars in order to approve a small number of our highly qualified nominees, who should right now be helping to run our Country," Trump wrote.

"This demand is egregious and unprecedented, and would be embarrassing to the Republican Party if it were accepted. It is political extortion, by any other name. Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL!" Trump wrote.

"Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our Country. Have a great RECESS and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" Trump concluded.

Meanwhile, Schumer put the blame on Trump, whom he said “threw in the towel, sent Republicans home, and was unable to do the basic art of negotiating." Schumer added, "He went home with nothing."

What's at stake

While the Democrats play games and the Republicans skip town, the fate of at least 150 executive appointees hangs in the balance, Fox News reported. Thune claimed that this was proof that the rules are "desperately in need of change" after the impasse and continued opposition from Democrats.

"I think that the last six months have demonstrated that this process, nominations, is broken. And so I expect there will be some good robust conversations about that," Thune said.

Democrats claim they are not holding up nominations but that Trump's nominees are simply unqualified for the job, The Hill reported. Schumer said as much in a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday. "Historically bad nominees deserve historic levels of scrutiny," Schumer declared.

"We have never seen nominees as flawed, as compromised, as unqualified as Trump’s. And they know that," Schumer added. Meanwhile, Democrats attempt to extract more money and less pushback from Republicans on their spending, which demonstrates how it's all about politics.

With Trump in office, Democrats have been digging their heels in wherever they can to thwart his agenda. Holding up nominations is just another tactic to achieve the same end, though they should be aware that the American people have given Trump a mandate while sending the message to Democrats that their political future is at stake.

As President Donald Trump works to unravel California Governor Gavin Newsom (D)'s electric vehicle mandate, consumer demand is softening for the expensive and sometimes unreliable vehicles. 

Newsom's plan would see gasoline-powered cars banned in the state by 2035--a move that would effectively be a nationwide ban because automobile makers tailor their manufacturing to California's standards due to its large share of the overall marketplace.

Sales of EVs in California were already softening in 2024, but in the latest 3-month period ending in June, they were more than 16,000 lower than the same period the previous year--100,671 instead of 116,813 according to registration data.

At the end of 2024, EV sales were 25.1% of all sales in the Golden State, but April through June 0f 2025 they were 21.6%. That's not the direction Newsom and Democrat powers-that-be want things to go.

Weaknesses exposed

It doesn't help that more widespread use of EVs has exposed weaknesses such as the impact of extreme temperatures on battery life and charging time.

Furthermore, some of the perks EV users have enjoyed are going away in the coming months.

Special access to carpool lanes will end on September 30, and so will the tax credits ($7,500 for new and $4,000 for used EVs).

These perks were meant to attract drivers to EVs, and without them, some drivers may not be incentivized to pay higher prices and deal with "range anxiety" and the other drawbacks of EVs.

Consumers may remember the time in 2020 when EV owners were asked not to charge their cars in the afternoon or evening during a heat wave that strained the power grid.

Why buy a car that you won't be able to use when you really need to?

Counterproductive

Think about it: if consumers know that in 10 more years they won't be able to get gasoline-powered cars anymore, wouldn't that drive demand for them up?

That's the exact opposite of what Newsom is going for, but it makes perfect sense.

Get your gas-powered car now or in the next several years before prices go up. EVs should get more affordable as time goes on, so it may be advantageous to wait as long as possible.

That is, if Trump doesn't manage to topple the mandate. My money's on him, for what it's worth.

A Michigan lawmaker considered by many to be a rising star in the Democratic Party has found herself in hot water with her most progressive colleagues.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin drew fire from the left last week when she skipped a vote on a potential block on arms sales to Israel in favor of a star turn on Stephen Colbert’s late-night comedy show, as the Daily Mail reports.

Slotkin angers liberal flank

It was on Wednesday that Slotkin ventured to the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan to tape her segment on Colbert’s show, taking to social media to plug her pending appearance.

To the apparent surprise of many in her party, Slotkin posted a photo from backstage at the legendary venue, writing, “Tune in tonight!!”

Her presence in New York caused Slotkin to miss multiple votes on the Senate floor, however, including the aforementioned resolution that would have halted over $675 million in arms sales to Israel, a proposal that, while ultimately defeated, drew growing support from Democrats in the chamber.

The resolutions pertaining to Israel were introduced by far-left Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–VT), and they garnered support from many in the progressive wing of Slotkin’s party.

As a result of what some viewed as her dereliction of the duty to be present and to vote on them, Slotkin’s absence spurred notable criticism from several of her more radical colleagues.

Explanation offered

In the wake of the uproar, Slotkin attempted to assuage concerns raised by her fellow lawmakers and her constituents alike, taking to X to explain her thinking.

She began, “I owe it to my state to make clear where I stand: Had I made it back for the vote yesterday, I would have voted yes to block offensive weapons to Israel based on my concerns over lack of food and medicine getting to civilians in Gaza.”

The senator added that while she is a “strong supporter of the Jewish State of Israel,” she is also attuned to the “calls from Michiganders who have friends and family trying to survive in Gaza.”

Slotkin went on to criticize the method utilized by Sanders to express frustration with decisions made by Israeli leaders, saying, “In general, I think these Disapproval votes are a bad way to do foreign policy.”

She continued, “The Executive Branch, whether run by Democrats or now Republicans, has the responsibility to set U.S. foreign policy, and to lead negotiations with both allies and adversaries.”

Not impressed

Slotkin’s long-winded treatise did little to sway her critics, with AIPAC Tracker, a group that chronicles political contributions from pro-Israeli groups to elected officials, writing, “The essay is not necessary, Senator. The people simply want you to stand against genocide. Your obfuscation is telling.”

Though Slotkin says she would have voted in favor of the arms sale block had she been in D.C., she does have a history of critiquing the far-left wing of her party on high-profile topics, saying just recently, “I can’t just be an activist…,” adding that she has to be “more than just an AOC…because we live in a purple state, and I’m a pragmatist.” That seems a fair observation, but one which may continue to foster friction with the progressive arm of the Democratic Party.

President Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, made it crystal clear this week that Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil will be deported, despite a roller coaster of legal challenges.

According to Newsmax, Homan, during an interview on "Finnerty," reacted to an "appeals court ruling on Wednesday preventing the Trump administration from re-detaining Khalil as it continues to appeal a federal judge's decision to release him last month."

Khalil was set to be deported by the Trump administration for his prominent role in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University, along with inconsistencies on his green card.

The Trump administration's efforts to deport and re-detain him have been challenged at every turn.

Homan makes it clear

Trump's border Czar held nothing back in explaining what he believes Khalil's fate will ultimately be.

He pointed out the "radical judges" that continue to try and hamstring the Trump administration's deportation efforts across the board.

"Well, look, we're going to litigate. We'll appeal the decision ... we got radical judges just trying to stop the Trump administration from doing our job and enforcing the law," he said during the interview.

Homan went on to explain that it's up to the courts to rule on what's stated in federal law, and either way, he'll be deported, one way or another.

"If the appeals court rules on the specifics of the case and rules on what the law says, there's only one ending: We detain him and deport him, but regardless, he will be deported. He's been ordered deported."

Newsmax noted:

Khalil, a green card holder who is married to a U.S. citizen, was released from federal custody in Louisiana last month by a district judge whose ruling superseded that of an immigration judge who ordered that Khalil remain detained.

"Full authority"

Homan explained that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has the authority to cancel his visa.

"And the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has full authority to cancel a visa because [Khalil's] indifferent to our foreign policy. And it's not just what he said," Homan said. "I read all these media people, Oh, well, he has his First Amendment rights."

He reminded listeners that First Amendment rights are also limited.

"Look, First Amendment rights have a limitation, too. I can't say I'm going to kill a president, or I can't say a movie theater and say 'fire,' or I can't say something really bad about you on purpose. That's false; that's libel."

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has introduced the Colleges for the American People Act, limiting H-1B visas for workers at colleges and universities, Breitbart reported in an exclusive. These types of visas have received more scrutiny over the perception that they displace American workers in favor of foreign workers.

Cotton introduced the legislation Thursday after Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) sponsored the bill in the House. The CAP Act would limit higher education institutions to 65,000 such visas annually, the same limit as other types of businesses.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of white collar workers are brought to the U.S. under the program.  They sometimes replace Americans, who then must train their foreign counterparts, and Cotton thinks it's time to curb that practice in colleges and universities.

Closing a Loophole

Cotton believes it's time to close the loophole in higher education with the CAP Act. "College and universities shouldn’t get special treatment to bring in more woke administrators and professors from around the world," Cotton pointed out in a statement.

"In addition to securing our southern border, it’s also past time to fix our broken legal immigration system. Getting rid of this loophole is a good place to start," the Arkansas lawmaker added.

Tiffany made a similar point about the House's version of the bill with its focus on prioritizing employment for Americans over foreign workers. "Instead of importing foreign labor, American universities need to invest in developing their own students for roles in leadership and teaching," Tiffany asserted.

"The CAP Act makes sure American graduates get those opportunities," he added. It's no surprise that academic institutions and companies hire foreign workers is because they are cheaper to employ than American workers.

According to a Journal of Business Ethics report published in September 2024, H-1B visa workers earned 10 percent less than American citizens in the same roles, which points to a financial incentive for companies. Democrats love the program because it's another excuse to import more foreign workers and muddy the illegal immigration debate. Regardless of the supposed benefits, the program isn't necessarily what's best for Americans.

Ongoing Problem

This is not the first time the situation with H-1B visas has come under scrutiny for its negative impact on the American worker. Vice President JD Vance railed against Microsoft and other Big Tech companies that were lobbying for additional visa employees while laying off thousands of American workers.

"You see some big tech companies where they’ll lay off 9,000 workers, and then they’ll apply for a bunch of overseas visas. And I sort of wonder; that doesn’t totally make sense to me," Vance said at a business conference.

According to an earlier Breitbart report, Microsoft applied for up to 6,000 H-1B visa workers just after that layoff occurred, suggesting it might have been an effort to replace Americans. "That displacement and that math worries me a bit," Vance added.

Microsoft responded to the allegations, stating that the layoffs had nothing to do with favoring foreign workers, as some of those who lost their jobs were H-1B visa workers, Newsweek reported. Notably, the company did not say how many of those laid off were foreign workers under the H-1B visa program.

American companies should prioritize Americans for employment, even if it affects their bottom line, because it is the good corporate citizenship that they're always touting. Closing the loophole for higher education institutions goes a long way to signaling that the practice should face limits wherever it's done.

President Donald Trump signed the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act on Wednesday, giving the Department of Veterans Affairs the ability to prevent veterans from losing their homes to foreclosure, Breitbart reported. The bill was sponsored by military veterans Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), and Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL). 

There are numerous government programs dedicated to assisting illegal immigrants and giving aid to foreign nations. This time, Orden, a retired Navy SEAL with combat experience, and Bost, an ex-Marine, have crafted legislation that will take care of America's veterans.

The lawmakers stood by Trump as he signed the bill into law. "It's a very important bill," Trump said, holding up the document he just signed in a clip shared to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.

A Helping Hand

The new law will give veterans some flexibility in their mortgages, helping them avoid foreclosure during times of financial difficulties. The partial claims repayment program allows the VA to buy the delinquent loans and defer the missed payments until the end of the loan, and provide a fixed 2.5% interest rate.

This legislation replaces the Biden-era Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase program that was created in 2024 and eliminated by the Trump administration in May to make room for a better version.  Under Biden's version of the program, the VA took on $5.48 billion in debt and saved 17,000 homes from foreclosure.

The new law was passed in the House in May, and the Senate passed its own version this month, which went to the president's desk for signature. A joint statement from the House and Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs leaders touted the move.

"This bipartisan and bicameral legislation will assist veterans who are facing financial hardships and provide the VA with a tool to better help veterans stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure. The VA Home Loan Program provides one of the best benefits VA has to offer, and has helped veterans and their families build home equity since its inception in 1944," the July 16 statement said.

A news release from The American Legion also championed the helping hand this would give to veterans. "This critical legislation represents a profound commitment to safeguarding the financial security and dignity of veteran homeowners, especially during times of hardship," James LaCoursiere, the national commander of the patriotic veterans organization, said.

Homelessness Prevention

This program offers more than just financial assistance; it also provides homelessness prevention. The New York Post reported in January 2024 that a Department of Housing and Urban Development review found that homelessness among veterans hit a 12-year high after years of trending downward.

The report noted that in just one night in January 2023, some 35,574 homeless veterans were effectively out on the streets. "One veteran experiencing homelessness is one too many, let alone 35,574. We are at a pivotal moment in the national housing and homelessness crises,” Monica Diaz, executive director of the VA Homeless Programs Office, wrote in response to that abysmal statistic.

Jim Whaley, a U.S. Army veteran and the CEO of veteran advocacy group Mission Roll Call, also expressed dismay about this troubling trend. "We have failed as a nation when we look at numbers like that," Whaley said.

"We are not doing a good job as a country in making sure that veterans are not homeless. We’re not doing a very good job of making sure they’re transitioning to civilian life in a successful manner," Whaley added. Trump's program will at least take foreclosure off the table as one of the many reasons for veteran homelessness.

Trump's commitment to caring for veterans is admirable, and now he's putting that philosophy into practical solutions that will help real people. The nation owes an outstanding debt to the men and women who give up years of their lives defending America's freedom, and it's about time that those in Washington, D.C., do something to ensure that's repaid.

Prince Harry is now "desperate" to make amends with the royal family as his father, King Charles III, battles cancer, Fox News reported. Tension between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family continued to simmer long after they stepped down from their official roles in 2020.

Harry made the first move towards reconciliation by sharing his daily itinerary of engagements with the royal family. This has been interpreted as a way for the "Spare" author to win back the king's favor after he and his wife, Meghan Markle, left the royal family in 2020 and headed for California.

"Harry is now desperate. While this self-serving gesture is notable, it won’t do much to mitigate suspicion and caution on the royal side," Hilary Fordwich, an expert on the British royal family, said to Fox News Digital.

"King Charles III is now more guarded than ever, indeed somewhat traumatized by a string of betrayals," Fordwich added. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan's once-promising foray into American entertainment has fallen flat with audiences and arguably squandered any goodwill for the pair.

Obstacles

While Harry may be ready to reconcile, the road is anything but easy after all that has transpired, including thinly-veiled accusations of racism against the royal family and alleged leaks to the press originating with the Sussexes. Fordwich said that Charles "has expressed being 'cautious and wary' regarding fearing further unsavory leaks, [especially] private royal family gatherings being publicized yet again."

There's also the problem of winning back Harry's brother, Prince William. "Also, overall doubt still prevails in Prince William’s camp. He considers any reconciliation at all as a 'grave mistake,'" Fordwich added.

"His senior royal courtiers are understood to be just as wary and immensely protective of the future monarch. They only see [a reconciliation] as creating more bombshells, as well as instability."

The Sussexes have long been accused of competing for attention with the British royal family, including scheduling engagements to coincide with palace dates and events. This happened most recently with Harry's visit to Angola, where his mother, Princess Diana, was dedicated to landmine removal. The visit reportedly overshadowed Queen Camilla's 78th birthday.

Royal watcher Richard Fitzwilliams believes that Harry's move to share his schedule was a signal that he was ready to rectify this problem. "The Sussexes should always respect the royal calendar, where natural care is taken to avoid clashes whenever possible. … This is a practical move that will be appreciated. It appears the Sussexes are getting some good advice," Fitzwilliams said.

Long road ahead

In May, Harry said that he was interested in repairing the relationship with his family after all that had transpired over the years. "I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don’t know how much longer my father has," Harry said. Charles has an undisclosed type of cancer and is receiving treatment, though his prognosis is unknown.

While there have been recent talks between staffers for the prince and the king, representatives for Prince William, Harry's brother, were notably absent. "If there is to be any proper reconciliation, the royal family has absolutely no need to move at anything other than a glacial pace," Fordwich noted.

"As for the calendar gesture, it’s not important to the royal family. They share their calendars with the British government and other foreign governments. … It’s up to Harry to plan properly around the royals, not the other way around," Fordwich added.

However, there may be more to the story than family reunification. According to the New York Post, the ex-royals recently lost their $100 million Netflix deal after Meghan Markle’s With Love, Meghan series garnered an abysmal 5.3 million views and was ranked 383rd on the network's watch list. The streaming service will not renew its deal with the Sussexes, and without a connection to the royal family, the pair are at a dead end.

Family reconciliation is always a good thing, even in the worst of feuds. It would be wonderful for Harry and the king to make amends, especially with Charles' illness, but that will take humility and patience on the part of the Sussexes, and so far, they've shown very little of either.

A federal judge has ordered Medicaid to continue paying Planned Parenthood after blocking a provision in President Donald Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill defunding the abortion giant, Breitbart reported. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, granted the preliminary injunction on Monday.

Taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for the abortion mill through Medicaid reimbursement while the litigation continues. Talwani decided that there was a risk of more babies being born, among other consequences, if Trump's defunding was allowed to stand while the courts hash out the issue.

“Patients are likely to suffer adverse health consequences where care is disrupted or unavailable. In particular, restricting Members’ ability to provide healthcare services threatens an increase in unintended pregnancies and attendant complications because of reduced access to effective contraceptives, and an increase in undiagnosed and untreated STIs," the judge wrote in her opinion.

The recent decision expanded last week's ruling that blocked part of the defunding based on the bill's wording about a "prohibited entity," which includes Planned Parenthood Federation affiliates that "do not provide abortions because of state law or those who received less than $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in 2023." The case will continue to make its way through the courts.

The lawsuit

Trump signed his bill into law on July 4, which barred abortion providers from receiving reimbursement for one year. Although it was not mentioned by name in the bill, Planned Parenthood filed an injunction claiming that cutting off Medicaid funding would have "devastating effects" on its so-called treatment.

Moreover, the organization said almost 200 of its abortion mills are "at risk of closure" because of the provision in the bill. Trump's Department of Health and Human Services countered their claims, pointing out that Planned Parenthood "has no right to taxpayer money" and that "the court should not invent such a right" in its decision.

"The Court should uphold Congress’s lawful exercise of its authority to decide to whom it will entrust taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars," the HHS filing said. Of course, Planned Parenthood is used to the open spigot that allows taxpayer dollars to freely flow to it, and they're not about to give up without a fight.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America's CEO and president, Alexis McGill Johnson, said the abortion giant was ready to continue its fight for what it calls "critical health care." HHS communications director Andrew Nixon responded that "[s]tates should not be forced to fund organizations that have chosen political advocacy over patient care."

Defunding abortion

The abortion debate has raged over the past half century in America over moral issues. Those who are pro-life feel it should be illegal, while the pro-abortion side has rabidly defended killing babies in the womb up until the moment of birth.

Within that also lies the issue of who should pay for these abortions, and many on the pro-life side have worked to keep taxpayer dollars out of Planned Parenthood coffers. The Hyde Amendment already prohibits abortion providers from receiving federal dollars except for cases of a child conceived in rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is threatened.

The logical argument is that a life is always a life, regardless of how it's created, which has led to the position that no federal money should pay for the slaughter of the unborn. Still, Planned Parenthood's annual report for 2023-2024 showed it killed 402,230 babies in the womb, which is an increase from the 392,715 reported the year before.

For its trouble, Planned Parenthood received an additional $100 million over the previous year and received a whopping $792.2 million in taxpayer dollars. Despite the current injunction, there may be hope yet that the defunding will stand as the  Supreme Court ruled last month that South Carolina could block Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood and said that the organization did not have civil rights protections under the law.

Abortion is a blight on humanity, and having taxpayers fund it makes the act all the more despicable. Trump has tried to do what he can to remedy the situation and right the wrong, but the courts have attempted to undo his progress at every turn, including this judge.

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